description All My Sons Overview
All My Sons is a drama by Arthur Miller that premiered on Broadway in 1947 and established him as a major American playwright. The play centers on manufacturer Joe Keller, whose business supplied defective aircraft engine parts during World War II, causing pilots' deaths while his partner was imprisoned for the crime. Through the Keller family, Miller examines personal responsibility, wartime profiteering, denial, and the moral obligations individuals owe to society.
insights Ranking position
All My Sons ranks #35 of 203 in the Play ranking, behind Joe Turner's Come and Gone, ahead of Andromaque.
help All My Sons FAQ
What did Joe Keller do in All My Sons?
Joe allowed cracked aircraft cylinder heads from his factory to be shipped during World War II, and 21 pilots died. He let his business partner Steve Deever take the blame while preserving his own freedom and company.
Why does Chris want to marry Ann Deever?
Chris Keller loves Ann, who had previously been engaged to his missing brother Larry. Their marriage would require Kate Keller to accept that Larry is dead, something she resists because that admission threatens the family's larger deception.
What does Larry's letter reveal?
The letter reveals that Larry learned of his father's role in the defective-parts scandal and intended to die during his final flight. It destroys Joe's belief that his actions were justified solely by responsibility to his family.
How is All My Sons connected to Arthur Miller's later work?
The 1947 Broadway success established Miller before Death of a Salesman premiered in 1949. Both plays examine fathers, sons, moral responsibility, and the damage caused when business success becomes a measure of personal worth.
explore Explore More
Similar to All My Sons
See all arrow_forward
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
